Critical Elements Provides Preliminary Update ON Its 10,000-METER Drill Program at Rose WEST
1
PRESS RELEASE
CRITICAL ELEMENTS PROVIDES PRELIMINARY UPDATE ON ITS 10,000-METER DRILL
PROGRAM AT ROSE WEST
April 1 st, 202 6 - MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC – Critical Elements Lithium Corporation (TSX -V: CRE) (US
OTCQX: CRECF) (FSE: F12) ("Critical Elements" or the "Corporation”) is pleased to provide an update
on its Phase 1 Winter 2026 drill program, at the 100% owned Rose West Discovery (“Rose West”), located
in Eeyou Istchee, Québec . Rose West is situated within 10 km of the highly advanced Rose Lithium -
Tantalum Project (“Rose”). Rose West was previously documented as a near surface, sub -horizontal 10-
40 m thick lithium-rich pegmatite bearing zone intercepted by drilling over a 450 m x 370 m footprint area
in the winter of 2024 (see Press Release dated February 3, 2026). Recent drilling confirms the presence of
spodumene rich intervals all around the initial core zone, and especially towards the East Target area,
extending the main pegmatite body by about 800 meters towards the east and by about 400 meters to the
south, thus bringing its overall footprint to 1250 m x 800 m . Furthermore, the recent drilling has identified
three (3) new spodumene -bearing pegmatitic bodies within the target area; a significant addition to the
working model as it could potentially lead to rapid growth of the mineral inventory within the footprint of the
project.
Assay results were received for holes RW-26-29, RW -26-30 and RW-26-45, and returned lithium and
tantalum assays, as highlighted:
• 1.51% Li2O and 242 ppm Ta2O5 over 3.60 m, and 0.77% Li2O and 170 ppm Ta2O5 over 15.05 m
(including 1.39% Li2O and 111 ppm Ta2O5 over 8.00 m) in hole RW-26-29
• 1.17% Li2O and 704 ppm Ta2O5 over 2.95 m, in hole RW-26-30
• 1.24% Li2O and 108 ppm Ta2O5 over 27.80 m (including 1.43% Li2O and 122 ppm Ta2O5 over
22.00 m), and 0.93% Li2O and 185 ppm Ta2O5 over 12.65 m in hole RW-26-45
* Core length; the true thickness is between 80 to 95% of the core length.
To date, the Winter 2026 drill program has covered most of the Line A, Line E and Line K planned holes
(Figure 1). As previously mentioned, holes were planned to reach three specific goals:
1. Expand laterally all around the existing mineralized footprint (RW-26-29 to 34, RW-26-45 & 46);
2. Test the area for continuity to the northeast (RW-26-47 to 50), to the southeast (RW-26-40 to 44);
3. Verify the potential of discovering additional lithium-bearing pegmatites below the currently defined
area.
Figure 1 below presents the 2026 collars location with, as well as the revised footprint on surface of the
interpreted spodumene-rich pegmatitic dykes. Eighteen (18) holes have been drilled to date for a total of
3,755 meters. Table 1 presents the collar locations along with final length and the azimuth / dip of the holes
drilled to date.
2
Figure 1: Location map of the 2026 drillholes with respect to those from the winter 2024 campaign
Drillhole Grid UTM NAD 83 ZN18 Length Azimuth Dip
Position Easting Northing (m) () ()
RW-26-29 E-08 411277 5763656 207 245 -80
RW-26-30 E-06 411195 5763599 72 245 -70
RW-26-31 K-10 411129 5764041 126 245 -70
RW-26-32 K-11 411211 5764098 165 245 -70
RW-26-33 K-12 411293 5764156 287.7 245 -70
RW-26-34 K-13 411375 5764213 147 245 -70
RW-26-39 A-08 411506 5763328 262.35 245 -70
RW-26-40 A-11 411670 5763443 195 245 -70
RW-26-41 A-13 411834 5763558 218.5 245 -70
RW-26-42 A-15 411998 5763673 9 245 -70
RW-26-43 A-17 412162 5763788 200 245 -70
RW-26-44 A-21 412489 5764017 301.9 245 -70
RW-26-45 E-14 411686 5763943 277.3 245 -80
RW-26-46 E-15 411768 5764000 222 245 -80
RW-26-47 E-17 411932 5764115 194.3 245 -70
RW-26-48 E-19 412096 5764230 207 245 -70
RW-26-49 E-21 412260 5764345 255 245 -70
RW-26-50 E-23 412423 5764459 407.8 245 -70
Table 1 – 2026 Winter Drillholes location and summary description
3
Table 2 following presents the composite assay results received to date, and the intervals of anticipated
mineralization along the other holes that were fully logged at the time of this news release. The main
pegmatite (Zone 3) shows downhole intersection lengths ranging from about 2.0 m in hole RW-26-49 at its
northeastern limit to over 25.0 m in hole RW -26-45, confirming the continuity of the core zone defined
previously. Nine other holes h ave intersected Zone 3 with a thickness averaging 13.0 meters. Zone 2 has
been intersected in 6 holes with thicknesses ranging from 5.0 to 15.0 meters. Holes RW-26-29 and 30 have
intersected the thin Zone 4 very close to the top.
Zones 5, 6 and 7 are newly interpreted from the recent results, and they show a thickness comparable to
the main Zone 3 and, along with the other zones, are believed to be stacked following an “en echelon”
pattern within a structural corridor defined by the presence of shallow dipping aplitic dykes (see Figures 2
to 4).
4
Drillhole From To Length Li2O Ta2O5 Zone
(m) (m) (m) (%) (ppm)
RW-26-29 12.60 16.20 3.60 1.51 242 4
And 176.95 192.00 15.05 0.77 170 6 (new)
including 180.00 188.00 8.00 1.39 111 6 (new)
RW-26-30 3.45 6.40 2.95 1.17 704 4
RW-26-31 54.00 60.50 6.50 3
96.00 101.85 5.85 2
RW-26-32
39.00 52.50 13.50 3
105.10 110.85 5.75 n.a
116.90 118.25 1.35 n.a
RW-26-33 60.35 78.10 17.75 3
122.05 123.60 1.55 2
RW-26-34 37.00 51.50 14.50 3
RW-26-39
68.65 71.35 2.70 5 (new)
112.00 126.50 14.50 3
132.15 137.50 5.35 3
RW-26-40
26.20 27.90 1.70 n.a
55.90 67.10 11.20 5 (new)
104.40 120.00 15.60 3
150.40 155.30 4.90 n.a
RW-26-41
68.55 87.05 18.50 5 (new)
112.00 122.00 10.00 3
189.70 192.80 3.10 n.a
RW-26-42 - 9.00 Abandoned
RW-26-43 - 114.00 On Going
RW-26-44 - 301.90 To be Extended
RW-26-45 113.20 141.00 27.80 1.24 108 3
including 119.00 141.00 22.00 1.43 122 3
And 163.25 175.90 12.65 0.93 185 2
RW-26-46
70.60 81.05 10.45 5 (new)
125.60 138.20 12.60 3
168.20 182.80 14.60 2
RW-26-47
69.30 79.60 10.30 5 (new)
140.15 151.90 11.75 3
165.25 175.60 10.35 n.a
188.05 193.25 5.20 2
RW-26-48 130.50 138.60 8.10 3
168.65 178.05 9.40 2
RW-26-49 158.55 160.65 2.10 3
RW-26-50 328.20 341.10 12.90 7 (new)
Table 2 – Spodumene-bearing pegmatite intervals and assay results from the Winter 2026 drill
campaign.
* Core length; the true thickness is between 80 to 95% of the core length.
** Zone; n.a. refers to “not assigned” to a given interpreted mineralized zone.
5
Figure 2: Vertical section – looking northwest
Photos 2A and 2C show a new pegmatitic zone (Zone 5), and photos 2B and 2D are examples of the
main pegmatite (Zone 3) aspect in core.
6
Figure 3: Vertical section – looking northwest
Photo 3A from hole RW-26-45 represents the widest intersection of the current campaign. Photo 3B is an
example of Zone 2. Photos 3C and 3D show the new Zone 5 and Zone 7 respectively.
7
Figure 4: Vertical section – looking northeast
Core photos 4A, 4B, 4D and 4E are all examples of the main Zone 3 pegmatite. Photo 4C presents a thinner
intersection through Zone 2.
8
The Winter 2026 drill campaign will soon be ending, and assay results are expected to become available
regularly from now on. The campaign has already proven to be successful by demonstrating the lateral
continuity of the mineralization, and interpretation of the mineralized model has been completed to the
extent of the available data. Figure 5 below shows a 3D view looking up-plunge along the shallow structural
corridor defined by aplitic dykes. The sub-horizontal pegmatites dykes are believed to be in an extensional
position, consistent with the moderate to steep structural fabric observed in the core which counterpart
illustrates the principal flattening component of the stress regime. The shallow aplitic dykes (Aplite 1 and
Aplite 2) are then interpreted as reverse shear planes developed in response to this regional NE -SW
regional shortening.
“It seems that the behaviour of the pegmatites, the way and where they developed, is intimately tied to the
stress regime in place; deep drilling has reve aled the presence of two pegmatite bodies (Zones 6 and 7)
positioned in the footwall of the Aplite 2 structure. This could suggest a repetition of a similar system below
the current mineralized footprint. As the corridor defined by the aplites dips eastward, this opens a near
surface potential to the west of the current zones. A mirror image could then be true towards the unexplored
eastern area as well. This drilling campaign has confirmed that our predictive model, an important tool, is
effective with positive implications for the planning of our upcoming Summer 2026 drill campaign ”,
commented Kenneth Williamson, Director of Exploration of the Corporation.
Figure 5: 3D view – looking southwest
“Given good lateral continuity of the zone, this drilling program significantly increases the footprint of the
Rose West Discovery. Should grades remain consistent with those reported in 2024, Rose West will
become an element of major impact in the perspect ive of the whole Rose Project ”, commented Jean -
Sébastien Lavallée, CEO of the Corporation.
Quality assurance/quality control
Quality assurance and quality control procedures have been implemented to ensure best practices in
sampling and analysis of the drill core samples. Standards, duplicate and blanks were regularly inserted
into the sample stream. The drill core samples were delivered, in secure tagged bags to the ALS Minerals
laboratory facility in Val-d’Or, Québec. The samples are weighed and identified prior to sample preparation.
The samples are crushed to 70% minus 2 mm, then separated and pulverized to 85% passing 75 μm. All
samples are analyzed using sodium peroxide fusion ME -MS-89L, with full analysis for 52 elements. Value
over 25,000 ppm Li were re -assays using Li -ICP-82b and value over 2,500 ppm Ta 2O5 were re-assays
using Ta-XRF10.